Caffeinated Clint
Over the weekend What’s Playing chatted to filmmaker Tony Scott – at the “Unstoppable” junket – who said he’d accepted Paramount’s offer to direct a sequel to “Top Gun”.
Scott wouldn’t go into details nor discuss Tom Cruise’s rumoured involvement but did confirm he’d be directing the sequel to the ’80s flyboy hit.
Later, in an interview with HitFlix, Scott said he doesn’t intend to simply photocopy the 1986 film – in fact, it’ll be something quite different.
“I don’t want to do a remake. I don’t want to do a reinvention. I want to do a new movie.”
There’s still no script, but Scott’s not waiting.
“I’m going to do my homework. I’m going down to I think it’s Fallon, Nevada, down near New Mexico and it’s a whole different world now,” Scott says. “These computer geeks — these kids play war games in a trailer in Fallon, Nevada and if we ever went to war or were in the Middle East or the Far East or wherever it is, these guys can actually fly drones. They are unmanned aircraft. They operate them and then they party all night.”
“Top Gun 2” will partially examine the end of the era of fighter pilots. Scott notes, “These guys are still test pilots and they manned the drones when they were first running them.”
Scott, once again, wouldn’t discuss Cruise’s involvement.
Previously…
God, I’m ashamed to say…I’m excited! Those fuckin’ marketing execs have got me this time, me! Whoddathoughtthatdhappen!?
… and at all times, when I’m drinkin’!
But you know how much I love “Top Gun” right!? You’ve all heard the story about how I missed the first 20 minutes of the film at the cinema and have never forgiven my mother’s ex for being so tardy!? (Well, beating my bro and I up for a good ten years comes a close second) You’ve all likely read those incessant tweets of mine ‘Watching Top Gun again…”? Shit, and remember how excited I was when these “Top Gun 2″ rumours first surfaced!?
Fair to say, I’m a fan.
“Top Gun rules of engagement are written for your safety and for that of your team. They are not flexible, nor am I. Is that clear?”
Never thought it’d happen though. Shit, didn’t Tom Cruise actually come out and say, at one stage shortly after those rumours, that he’s not reprising Maverick!? Sure he did.
Surprise! Surprise! A lying actor! Cruise will indeed be reprising his role as Maverick in a sequel to Paramount’s 1986 blockbuster, says Vulture.
The studio wants Tony Scott back at the helm, Jerry Bruckheimer back at the, er, cash register, and Cruise back as Maverick – albeit in a small role. Cruise has already agreed to do it so long as it’s “not too obvious a part” (i.e he doesn’t want to play an instructor).
So how did this go from ‘laughable suggestion’ to ‘bonafide project’ so quickly? Two words : David. Ellison. The filthy-rich actor cum producer, who in addition to producing Tom Cruise’s upcoming “Mission : Impossible 4″ worked with my business partner Christopher Showerman on the new Universal comedy “Hole in One”, has a thing for aerobatics; you’ll recall Ellison starred in and produced the “Flyboys” movie a couple of years ago. Guess he wants another shot at making a movie about ‘birds’ and believes “Top Gun 2″ has a much better chance of making a dollar than a dull old WWII pilot movie starring Martin Henderson ever did. Probably right, too!
Christopher McQuarrie (“The Usual Suspects”) is writing the script.
This has gotta be great, right!? Like ‘sweaty, stunned mullet John Stockwell’ great!?
